Summary: Christmas

Luke 1:26-56 Meet Mary

She was there at the Coming of Christ, throughout the Childhood of Christ.

during the Commission of Christ, She stood at the Cross of Christ.

She knelt in the upper room in the Cause of Christ.

1. Mary’s Salutation.

1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

(A) A WORD OF ENRICHMENT TO MARY.

She knew God and she knew grace. - "Hail Mary full of grace" is a faulty translation

Mary found favour – received Grace to believe

47 "My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."

B. A WORD OF ENLIGHTENMENT FOR MARY

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. - Jesus Christ was born of a virgin.

His Claim - Son of God, His Name - Jesus - His Fame - He shall reign 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

(a) The Mystery of His Person:

Gabriel affirmed both the deity and the humanity of Jesus.

As Mary's son, He was human; as Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32), He was Divine

"For unto us a Child is born [His humanity], unto us a Son is given [His deity]" (Isa. 9:6).

(b) The Majesty of His Position.

32 and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

(c) The Message of His Purpose. His name shall be called Jesus.

C. A WORD OF ENABLEMENT FOR MARY

34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

(a) His Power shall be on thee - The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,

(b) His Presence shall be over thee - This is the scene in Exodus in the Tabernacle.

(c) His Purpose shall be through you. God had a plan for Mary – and he has for you.

2. Mary’s Surrender

38 Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

Her Honesty - 34 How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Her Humility - 38 Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord

Her Humanity - 38 be it unto me according to thy word.

Mary gave her body, her mind and her will to the Lord.

An old man was asked what had robbed him of most joy."Things that never happened!"

Someone has cited three keys to happiness:

1. Fret Not - He loves you -

John 13:1 - having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

2. Faint Not - He holds you -

Psalm 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

3. Fear Not - He keeps you -

Psalm 121:5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

3. Mary's Song v. 46-49 -

(a) SHE HAD A SONG OF PRAISE

46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

(b) SHE HAD A SONG OF PURPOSE

v 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

- scattered the proud, - put down the mighty, - exalted the lowly, - filled the hungry

The song is not about Mary, The song is about God – He is breaking into history.

God wants to be in the middle of you life.

(c) SHE HAD A SONG OF PROMISE

55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4. Mary’s Saviour

2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Mary’s confidence in - His Claim, His Name and His Fame.